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Rustlers come back to defeat Barons in home opener

Oct 14, 2018 | 12:04 AM

The Red Deer Rustlers are officially back and 2-0 after a second straight win over the Devon Barons in their inaugural home opener Saturday night.

The Rustlers brand was recently revived after its former incarnation in the AJHL was expelled from that league in 1989. The junior hockey organization ultimately folded in 1992, but the name now lives on as part of the senior AA North Central Hockey League (NCHL).

On Saturday, the Rustlers played to a packed house at the Penhold Multiplex and skated to a 3-1 win.

Devon opened the scoring 4:27 into the game with a goal from Brent Coutu.

Red Deer drew even at the 17 minute mark of the second when Andrew McArthur netted his first of the season.

Former Red Deer Rebel defenseman Eric Frere put the Rustlers ahead two minutes later.

Midway through the third, forward Brennan Francon sealed the deal for Red Deer with his third goal in two games to start the season.

Team captain and president Mike Dempster, whose father played and coached during the Rustlers’ Junior A days, said putting on the sweater and playing in front of close to 400 fans was an experience he won’t soon forget.

“It’s amazing. The numbers at the gate said we had 160 walk-up tickets today. Once the first puck dropped, it honestly was a little bit of a weight off our shoulders,” he admitted post-game. “There’s a few of us who’ve put a lot of work in on the backside and that’s done now. We can just be hockey players and worry about winning games.”

Goaltender Brett Bothwell played his first game of the season and stopped 29 of 30 shots. Red Deer fired 41 pucks at Devon goalie Tanner Schalin.

Next up for the Rustlers is a date with the fellow-expansion Sylvan Lake Pirates on Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Penhold Multiplex. Game time is at 7 p.m.

“We’re excited for Sylvan next weekend. They’re another new team and we don’t know anything about them other than that they’ll probably want to beat us really bad,” Dempster added. “It’s close enough our fans can travel to Sylvan, their fans can come here. It’s good for everybody.”